Thread-parting mechanism for looms.



A. E. RHOADES. THREAD PARTING MECHANISM FOR Looms.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.27,1909. 1 1 Patented May 25, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. B. RHOADES. THREAD PARTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB.27,1909.

1 Patented May 25, 1909. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

illlmilllllllllllllmllllwilllIll! H 11ml!lm[IIIIIII]llllllllllllllllllllllll UNITED STATES .ALONZO E. RHOADES, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO DRA-PER COMPANY, OF

PATEN FFICE.

HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

THREAD-PARTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.-

Application filed February 27, 1909. Serial No. 480,322.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo E. RHoADEs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Hopedale, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Thread Parting Mechanism for Looms, of which the following descri tion, in connection with the accompanying rawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

My present invention relates to automatic looms wherein the working shuttle is provided with a fresh supply of filling prior to complete exhaustion of the previous supply,

and such invention has more particular reference to the mechanism for parting near the shuttle the old filling-end which extends from the cloth to the shuttle containing the fillin supply or bobbin about to be abandone In such mechanism the old filling-end has heretofore been positively clamped and parted near the shuttle and the clamped end as been drawn forward to bring it into the held of action of a temple thread-cutter, to

be severed close to the cloth, and in order to revent breakage of the clamped filling-end by the forward movement of the clamping and parting instrumentality to normal 'position such instrumentalityhas been moved bodily in a diagonal path toward the edge of the cloth. Examples of such mechanisms are found in United States Patents No. 683,423, September 24, 1901 Draper, and No. 897,404 granted to me September 1, 1908.

This resent invention has for its object the pro notion of novel means'for effecting and controlling the movement of the clamping and parting instrumentality away from and toward the cloth, to the end that an 40 easier movement of such instrumentality is secured, with less wear upon the parts and requiring a diminished expenditure of power to effect the desired results.

In the subjoined specification I have fully described the construction and operation of my invention, with especial reference to the novel features thereof, and have particularly pointed out the same in the following claims. Figure 1 is a transverse section, on line 11, Fig. 2, of a-suflicient portion of a loom with my present invention ap lied thereto, the various parts of the mec ianism being shown in normal, inoperative position; Fig. 2

is a top plan view of the greater portion of the loom, the rocking transferrer f, see

dotted lines Fi 1, to remove the fillingcarriers or bobblns b from the filling-feeder or hopper F to the shuttle, and the controlling rock-shaft d, may be and are of well known construction, the lay h'avin a hunter C to cooperate with the notche dog m when filling is to be replenished in the working shuttle S. I

In the practical embodiment of my present invention as herein disclosed a bracket 1 fixedly attached to the loom-side sustains a horizontal, inwardly extended stud 2 on which is mounted the hub 3 of a short arm 4 having at its forward end a yoke-shaped enlargement 5 provided with alined and separated bearings 6, 7, Fig. 1, and a lateral pin 3 extends from the enlargement 5, the bearings being located above and below the fulcrum stud 2, respectively, as shown in Fig. 1.

Said arm and yoke constitute a carrier for the shuttle-feeler, the carrier being adapted to swing about the stud 2 as a fulcrum, the rock-shaft (1 being operatively connected with the carrierby or through arm (Z fast on the rock-shaft and by the jaw d pivoted on the arm d and acted upon by a spring S the parts (Z and d conjointly cooperating with the pin 3 of the carrier, to control its swinging movement substantially as in Patent N 0. 677,096 granted to Northrop June 25, 1901. v

When the rock-shaft d is turned in the direction of arrow 100 the carrier is swung upward and rearward upon stud 2 to operatively position the shuttle-feeler, to be described, and by means of a cam-slotted arm Y bolted at 8 to the yoke of the carrier, the notched dog m is permitted to swing into the path of the hunter in the usual manner when replenishment of filling is called for.

I-Ierein the shuttle-feelor 9 is shown as the enlarged and flattened upper and rearwardly-extended portion of an inclined and upturned shank 10 having a cylindrical portion 11 below a shouldered part 12 seated on the top of the bearing 6 on the carrier, the

portion 11 constituting an elongated ournal which is pivotally extended through .the bearings 6 and 7. A washer l3 and cotterpin 14, Fig. 1, below the bearing 7, prevent accidental withdrawal of the journal from its bearings. This construction provides a strong and unyielding pivotal connection between the shuttle-feeler and the swinging carrier, having practically the function of a long sleeve or hub-yet of relatively light weight by reason of the bifurcated structure of the yoke 5 of the carrier, so that while the shuttle-feeler can be freely swun laterally with relation to the carrier it is rmly sustainedwithout possibility of twisting, and is securely connected with the carrier.

The fulcrum 2 for the carrier and the journal 11 of the shuttle-feeler are at right angles to each other as herein shown so that the fore and aft movement of the feeler is with the carrier on the stud 2, and its lateral movement relatively to the carrier is about the journal 11.

A forwardly extended arm or follower 15 on the shank of the feeler adjacent the journal travels in a cam-slot 16 formed in an upright ear 17 shown as a part of the bracket 1 and constituting'a controller for the shuttlefeeler in its movements relative to the swinging carrier, the controller being curved longitudinally about the stud 2 as a center, and

viewing Fig.4 the cam-slot 16 of said controller is straight and upright at its upper end, at 16 and slightly curved and extended diagonally toward the loom-side below said straight portion. By this structure a very easy movement is provided for the shuttle-feeler when moved laterally relatively to the carrier when the latter is swung on its fulcrum 2, but the structure is exceedingly simple and easily made. While the controllerthus easily governs the feeler the control is very exact, and there is no oppor tunity for twisting or lost motion tending to improperly divert the feeler from its proper path, the structure bein very strong and durable and providing argebearing surfaces wherever such surfaces are required. The diagonal part of the groove in the controller serves to swing the shuttle-feeler laterally about the journal 11 toward the mouth of the shuttle-box on the backward swing of the feeler-carrier, and away from the mouth of the box on the forward swing, while the straight part 16 of the groove maintains the feeler in a straight path as it crosses the mouth of the'box on its final movement to feeling position.

From the foregoin it will be manifest that when filling-replenis ment is called for the carrier is swung rearward to the position shown in Fig. 3, carrying the feeler with it, but the follower 15 by cooperation with the controller will bemoved on its journal or fulcrum 11 into operative position across the mouth of the shuttle-box B, as in Fig. 3.

The feeler is thus moved away from the edge of the cloth as it is moved to operative position and the reverse action is effected upon return movement of the feeler to normal position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The tip of the feeler 9 is notched at 9 to receive the old filling-end when the feeler is moved into operative position, and suitable means to clamp and part such filling-end is mounted upon the feeler, such for instance as shown in Patent No. 834,269 granted 00- tober 30, 1906 to Cunniif. A fixed blade 16' is secured to the feeler adjacent the lower edge of the notch, and the movable blade 17 is fulcrumed onstud 18, to cooperate with the fixed blade and part the thread while also cooperating with the plate .19 constituting the fixed member of the thread clamp, as in the Cunniff patent. The movable member 17 of both clamp and thread-parter has a heel 20 which is struck by the advancing lay, to first clamp the filling-end t, Figs. 2 and 3, and then to part it at the side nearest the shuttle, the clamp remaining closed upon the thread when the feeler returns to normal, inoperative position. Inasmuch as the feeler is moved toward the edge of the cloth at such time the clamped length of the parted thread is slackened and strain removed therefrom as it is moved into position to be engaged by mal position and hence must be set or opened. before operative positioning of the shuttlefeeler, to coo erate with the old filling-end,

and herein I ave shown the setting device mounted upon an upturned arm 21 fulcrumed at 22 on a part of the bracket 1 and having a depending stop lug 23 held against the bracket by a s ring 24, Fig. 1.

A sprin contro led cam rib 25 is pivoted at 26 on t e rearwardly extended end 27 of the arm 21, and as the feeler moves rearward to operative position a lateral pin 28 on the heel of the movable member 17 of the clamp and parter passes under the cam rib, the latter then acting to swing the member 17 into of en position. After the clamp has been 0 osed the pin 28 wipes over the top of the cam rib 25 and depresses it against its spring 29, see dotted lines Fig. 1, as thefeelerreturns to normal position, so that the cam rib has no effect upon the clamp, the general structure and operation of the setting device best in Figs. 2 and 3, and substantially horizontal along the rearmost part, as shown in Fig. 1, to sustain the filling-end after it has been severed close to the edge of the cloth by the temple thread-cutter, thereby preventing the piece of thread from falling onto and possibly clogging the clamping and parting instrumentality. 4

Other means for clamping and parting the filling-end may be used instead of that herein illustrated.

As shown in Fig. 1 a lug on the yoke 5 is adapted to engage the part of the bracket 1 below the pivotal support of the arm 22 when the shuttle-feeler and .parts mounted thereon are moved to operatlve position, to

limit such movement and provide a fixed shipping point therefor.

aving fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is g I 1, In an automatic filling replenishing loom, a swinging carrier having a yoke-like enlar 'ement provided with separated and alined upper and lower bearings, a shuttlefeeler having an elongated journal pivotally operating with the follower to rock the feeler.

mounted in said bearings, a forwardlyextended follower rigidly connected w1th the feeler adjacent the journal, a controller 00- laterally relatively to the carrier when the latter is swun to efiect bodil movement of the feeler, and means carried y the latter to clam and part the thread of the fillingsupp y to be abandoned.

2. In an automatic filling-re lenishin loom, a swinging carrier, a fixed, orizonta support therefor; alined upper and lower bearings on the carrier, separated from each other and at right angles to the carrier sup port, a shuttle-feeler having a depending journal mounted in said bearings, whereby the feeler is movable with the carrier and also laterally relatively thereto, means on the feeler to clamp and part the thread of the filling-s11 ply to be abandoned, and means to contro the lateral movement of the feeler and cause it to move toward the edge of the cloth as the carrier returns to normal posi-' tion after filling replenishment.

3; In an automatic filling-re lenishin loom, a swinging carrier, a fixed, liorizonta support therefor, alined and separated bearings on the carrier above and below the support thereof and at ri ht an les thereto, a shuttle-feeler journalecf in sai bearings and movable laterally relatively to the carrier, a

thread clamping and parting instrumentality on the feeler, and means to move the feeler laterally in one direction when the carrier is swung into operative position and to reverse the lateral movement of said feeler when the support therefor, alined and separated bearings on the carrier above and below the su ort thereofa shuttle-feeler journale'd 1n said hearings and movable with the carrier and also laterally relatively thereto, a thread clamping and parting instrumentality on the feeler, and means to control the lateral movement of the feeler when the carrier is swung about its support, said means com rising an upright, fixe ear havin a cam s ot, and a follower rigidly connecte with the feeler and caused to traverse the slot by swinging movement of the carrier.

5. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, a swinging carrier havin a fixed fulcrum, separated and alined bearm s mounted on the carrier, a shuttle-feeler aving an elongated journal pivotally mounted in the bearings, a-thread clamping and arting in-' carrier, to effectlateral movement of the feeler relatively to the carrier.

6. In an automatic fillin replenishing loom, a swinging carrier having a fixed fulcrum, separatedand alined bearings, mounted on the carrier, a shuttle-feeler having an elongated journal pivotally mounted in the bearln s, a shoulder at the upper and of the journa to rest upon the top of the upper bearing, athread clam ing and arting instrumentality mounte on the eeler, and means to control lateral movement of the feeler about its journal as a center when the carrier is swung about its fulcrum.

7'. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, a swin ing carrier having a fixed fulcrum, alined 1%) above and below its fulcrum, a shuttle-feeler havin a de ending shank pivotally mounted in sai hearings to rock laterally relatively to the carrier, a thread clampin and partin instrumentality mounted on the feeler, and

vfollower extended from the feeler shank adjacent the bearings, and a fixed cam-like controller cooperating with the follower to govern the lateral movement of the feeler when the carrier is swung u on its fulcrum. In testimony whereof, I ave signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ALONZO E. RHOADES. Witnesses:

JESSE D. BRoMLEY, E. D. Oseoon. 

